Posted: May 11th, 2014

Conflict in the workplaceAs a teacher, I try very hard to get along with all of my…

As a teacher, I try very hard to get along with all of my colleagues. So far, I haven’t really alienated any of my peers, but there is one individual who insists on keeping students out of my room who need my class badly — this fellow teacher believes that his/her class is more important than core subject areas, and as a result, all of the school’s worst kids flock to his/her room to “escape” from actual classwork. This behavior has led to a conflict between the other teacher and myself, to the point that the principal has had to become involved. How might I extend an olive branch to this other teacher, and attempt to “bury the hatchet,” especially if he/she doesn’t want to? Suggestions appreciated.